Samuel s



linrrnn States Patent (Clarion.

SAMUEL S. EDDY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

TANNlNG PROCESS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,352, dated June137, 188%.

Application filedApril in, 1884. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. EDDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, New York, have invented new and use fulImprovements in Processes for Tanning, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the process of tanning, moreespecially to the tanning of those skins which it is desired to convertinto kid-leather. Hitherto in tanning such skins it has been necessary,when taken from the pickle, (or what are known as pickled sheepskins) toextract or kill the pickle, and it has been found that the pro eessesused therefor are apt to injure the skin and detract from the quality ofthe finished leather.

The object of my invention is to furnish a process by the use of whichthe tanning may proceed without killing or extracting the pickle whichmay be in the skin, and to produce economically a high grade of leather,always soft and pliable, and capable of receiving and reliably retainingand holding the color or dye imparted to it. The process by which thisis effected is as follows: Suppose the number to be treated is twelvedozen sheep-skins taken from the pickle, (what are known as pickledsheep-skins.) For this number I make a first solution or composition ofeighty-four pounds of wheat-bran fermented in one hundred and twentygallons of water, seventy-five pounds of salt, fifteen pounds ofsulphuric acid or oil of vitriol of66 strength, and five pounds ofquercitron bark. The bark should be boiled in four or five gallons ofwater, to extract the strength therefrom before mixing it with the otheringredients.

The composition thus made is intended for white leather. lVhen it isintended to color the leather, it is preferable to add to thecomposition noted about eightpounds of terrajaponica dissolved in asuitable amount of water.

The in redients of this solution possess qualities peculiarly adaptingit for the desired effects on the skins. The wheat-bran tends to softenthe skins, while atthe same time it possesses mild tanning properties.The salt is cleansing in its action, as is also the oil of vitriol,while the two, when mixed, form a tanning agent. The quercitron is awell-known tanning agent, giving body or strength to the a horse or rackand allowed to drain for an hour or more, when they are ready for asecond solution or composition. This is composed of sixty gallons ofwater, three pints of soft soap, one pound of glyoeriue, twelve ouncesof saleratus, and six ounces of horror. The saleratus and borax shouldbe separately dissolved in alittle water before being added to the otheringredients.

In this composition the use of the soap softens, cleanses, andstrengthens the skins, while the glyeerine, in addition to itspreservative qualities, tends to keep them soft and pliable. The boranwhiten's and bleaches the skins, while it and the saleratus, beingalkalies, neutralize any acid remaining in the skins from theirtreatment in the first solution. In treating the skins in this solutionit is preferable to treat a much smaller number at once thanthe twelvedozen for which the entire solution is intended. It is best, therefore,to place about five gallons of this second composition in any suitabletub or receptacle, and place one dozen skins therein, which are then tobe handled in the solution for five minutes. This liquor is then to bethrown away and a fresh five gallons used with the next dozen in thesame way, and so onuntil all the skins have had a five-minutes handlingin this second composition. They are then to be hung up in a hot roomuntil dry. After drying, they are to be seasoned by dipping quickly inwater and packing in a box. They should re main so packed for somehoursten or twelve, or, say, over nightafter which the next step is toperch out with the armstake, when they will be ready for the cleansing,which may be done in a solution composed of thirty-six gallons of water,six pounds of alum, and three pounds of salt, in which they should bethoroughly handled for about five minutes. The

skins are now ready for dyeingor coloring and finishing, or forfinishing, if white leather is desired. If to be colored, they arecolored and worked in the manner usual with kidfinished leather. After acharge of the first solution or composition has been made of thestrength and proportions set forth, and used as described, it may serveas a base for the next lot, as it may be strengthened and restored toits original activity by adding to what is left of it fifty pounds ofbran fermented as before set out, five to six pounds of sulphuric acid,and twenty-five to thirty pounds of salt, with the necessary quantity ofwater. The second solution or composition, however, cannot bestrengthened and must be made fresh for each lot to be treated, thespent liquor being simply thrown away.

While I have stated what I conceive to be the best proportions ofingredients for the solutions or compositions used, it is of courseevident that they may be somewhat varied to meet the conditions ofdifferent qualities of I skins.

. operations of washing, draining, and packing,

the final solution acting as an ordinary cleans: ing solution after thechanges necessary to forming leather have been completed in the hide,the-pickle in thehides having been neutralized by the conjointefi'ect ofthe acid and the alkaline tanning solutions.

With these compositions and by this method of treatment I am enabled toproceed with the tanning of pickled skins without first killing orextractingthe pickle,- and to easily and economically produce a strongleather of the highest and best kid finish, soft and pliable, andcapable of receiving a good color and durably retaining andholding it.The leather produced is also free from any bad or offensive odor, theeffect of the compositions used being to destroy any such odors whichmight arise from the decomposition or change in the animal fibers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The improved methodof tanning pickled hides, or hides fresh from the'pickle, which consistsin first partially tanning by subjecting them in the pickled conditionto an acidulating composition substantially of the character set forth,then washing and draining,

and neXt completing the operation of tanning by the action of analkaline tanning composition substantially of the character set forth,and then drying.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL S. EDDY.

Witnesses:

H. H. PYOTT, F. M. EDDY.

